Method for activating helper T cell

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for activating helper T cells, which includes the step of activating helper T cells by adding a WT1 peptide to antigen presenting cells, wherein the WT1 peptide has the ability to bind to an MHC class II molecule selected from HLA-DRB1*08:02 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*13:02 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:03 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:05 molecule, an HLA-DQB1*03:02 molecule, and an HLA-DQB1*04:01 molecule.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for activating helper T cells, comprising activating helper T cells by adding a WT1 peptide to antigen presenting cells, wherein the helper T cells recognize a complex of the WT1 peptide and an MHC class II molecule selected from an HLA-DRB1*08:02 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*13:02 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:03 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:05 molecule, an HLA-DQB1*03:02 molecule, and an HLA-DQB1*04:01 molecule, wherein the WT1 peptide consists of:
 (a) the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 2; or 
 (b) an amino acid sequence in which one amino acid is substituted, deleted, or added in the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 2; and 
 wherein the WT1 peptide is capable of binding to the MHC class II molecule. 
 
     
     
       2. A method for activating cytotoxic T cells, comprising administering a WT1 peptide, a polynucleotide encoding the WT1 peptide, an expression vector containing the polynucleotide, or cells containing the expression vector to a subject having an MHC class II molecule selected from an HLA-DRB1*08:02 molecule, an HLA-DRB113:02 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:03 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:05 molecule, an HLA-DQB1*03:02 molecule, and an HLA-DQB1*04:01 molecule, wherein the WT1 peptide consists of:
 (a) the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 2; or 
 (b) an amino acid sequence in which one amino acid is substituted, deleted, or added in the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 2; and 
 wherein the WT1 peptide is capable of binding to the MHC class II molecule. 
 
     
     
       3. A method comprising administering a WT1 peptide, a polynucleotide encoding the WT1 peptide, an expression vector containing the polynucleotide, or cells containing the expression vector to a subject who has been diagnosed with cancer and has an MHC class II molecule selected from an HLA-DRB1*08:02 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*13:02 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:03 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:05 molecule, an HLA-DQB1*03:02 molecule, and an HLA-DQB1*04:01 molecule, wherein the WT1 peptide consists of:
 (a) the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 2; or 
 (b) an amino acid sequence in which one amino acid is substituted, deleted, or added in the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO: 2; and 
 wherein the WT1 peptide is capable of binding to the MHC class II molecule. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 2  or  claim 3 , comprising administering the WT1 peptide to the subject. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the WT1 peptide consists of: Lys Arg Tyr Phe Lys Leu Ser His Leu Gln Met His Ser Arg Lys His (SEQ ID NO:2). 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the addition of the WT1 peptide to antigen presenting cells is carried out by contacting the antigen presenting cells with the WT1 peptide, or introducing a polynucleotide encoding the WT1 peptide or an expression vector containing the polynucleotide into the antigen presenting cells. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , which comprises administering the WT1 peptide a subject having an MHC class II molecule selected from the group consisting of: an HLA-DRB1*08:02 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*13:02 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:03 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:05 molecule, an HLA-DQB1*03:02 molecule, and an HLA-DQB1*04:01 molecule. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the WT1 peptide consists of: Lys Arg Tyr Phe Lys Leu Ser His Leu Gln Met His Ser Arg Lys His (SEQ ID NO:2). 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the MHC class II molecule is selected from an HLA-DRB1*08:02 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:03 molecule, an HLA-DRB1*14:05 molecule, an HLA-DQB1*03:02 molecule, and an HLA-DQB1*04:01 molecule.